A Conservative Anabaptist Catechism?

[S A DeVault]

I know that there are many different denominations in the Anabaptist tradition, so of course I'm not expecting something as universally authoritative as the current Catechism of the Catholic Church or the Catechism of the Council of Trent, but is there a Catechism or confession of faith that a majority of conservative Anabaptists would agree with? I'm really just eager to start to learn, and not sure how to go about it. Any suggested reading, besides my daily Scripture reading?

[steve-in-kville]

One thing that would set us apart from other groups is a "believer's baptism" instead of an infant baptism. I have Lutheran roots on my dad's side and we have several infant baptism certificates archives, written in German at that. Some date back to the mid-1700's.

[barnhart]

I know that there are many different denominations in the Anabaptist tradition, so of course I'm not expecting something as universally authoritative as the current Catechism of the Catholic Church or the Catechism of the Council of Trent, but is there a Catechism or confession of faith that a majority of conservative Anabaptists would agree with? I'm really just eager to start to learn, and not sure how to go about it. Any suggested reading, besides my daily Scripture reading?

Hi S A, I'm not sure what you are looking for, or if it even exists as Anabaptistism is broad. You might start with Bender's "Anabaptist Vision" or Guy Hershberger's "Recovering the Anabaptist Vision" and "The Way of the Cross in Human Relations."

[JimFoxvog]

Maybe it's not so "conservative" but this is pretty good. https://www.mennoniteusa.org/who-are-me ... -of-faith/

Unfortunately, a small majority at a recent conference has now rejected the part about marriage being between one man and one woman.

[Soloist]

Schleitheim and Dordrecht Confessions would be about as close as you get for historical conservative Anabaptists. These are not universally agreed-upon in its entirety, mostly differing over the ban. Otherwise there might be a nit pick here and there but I would say they’re pretty close.

[Neto]

See this thread for a discussion on the 1963 Mennonite Confession of Faith.

viewtopic.php?t=4842

This CoF is endorsed by many of the congregations and denominations that descended from the Swiss Brethren heritage, and is claimed by the congregation to which my wife & I belong. I am from the Dutch Mennonite heritage, and while this confession of faith was, as I understand, written by the General Conference Mennonites, who are also of Dutch Mennonite heritage (often we are all referred to as "Russian Mennonites"), my own faith background, Mennonite Brethren, has never claimed this confession.

What I think you might find interesting and revealing, would be to compare various confessions point by point. Individual congregational Statements of Faith might also be interesting to compare. (One stark difference in the original MB statements is that there was a recognition from the beginning (1860), that God calls men into the role of pastor by two basic means, through the voice of the congregation, and through a personal call. This latter form of a call to ministry is rarely if ever recognized in the congregations of Swiss Brethren descent.)

[S A DeVault]

Hi S A, I'm not sure what you are looking for, or if it even exists as Anabaptistism is broad. You might start with Bender's "Anabaptist Vision" or Guy Hershberger's "Recovering the Anabaptist Vision" and "The Way of the Cross in Human Relations."
[/quote]

I'll look up those two titles, thanks!

[S A DeVault]

See this thread for a discussion on the 1963 Mennonite Confession of Faith.

viewtopic.php?t=4842

This CoF is endorsed by many of the congregations and denominations that descended from the Swiss Brethren heritage, and is claimed by the congregation to which my wife & I belong. I am from the Dutch Mennonite heritage, and while this confession of faith was, as I understand, written by the General Conference Mennonites, who are also of Dutch Mennonite heritage (often we are all referred to as "Russian Mennonites"), my own faith background, Mennonite Brethren, has never claimed this confession.

What I think you might find interesting and revealing, would be to compare various confessions point by point. Individual congregational Statements of Faith might also be interesting to compare. (One stark difference in the original MB statements is that there was a recognition from the beginning (1860), that God calls men into the role of pastor by two basic means, through the voice of the congregation, and through a personal call. This latter form of a call to ministry is rarely if ever recognized in the congregations of Swiss Brethren descent.)

Hi Neto, I read this CoF, I found it very enlightening. I think I agree with everything in it, although giving up tobacco will be hard for me, as well as viewing communion from the Anabaptist perspective, mostly because transubstantiation was so hammered into me at the Roman Church

[Josh]

See this thread for a discussion on the 1963 Mennonite Confession of Faith.

viewtopic.php?t=4842

This CoF is endorsed by many of the congregations and denominations that descended from the Swiss Brethren heritage, and is claimed by the congregation to which my wife & I belong. I am from the Dutch Mennonite heritage, and while this confession of faith was, as I understand, written by the General Conference Mennonites, who are also of Dutch Mennonite heritage (often we are all referred to as "Russian Mennonites"), my own faith background, Mennonite Brethren, has never claimed this confession.

What I think you might find interesting and revealing, would be to compare various confessions point by point. Individual congregational Statements of Faith might also be interesting to compare. (One stark difference in the original MB statements is that there was a recognition from the beginning (1860), that God calls men into the role of pastor by two basic means, through the voice of the congregation, and through a personal call. This latter form of a call to ministry is rarely if ever recognized in the congregations of Swiss Brethren descent.)

Hi Neto, I read this CoF, I found it very enlightening. I think I agree with everything in it, although giving up tobacco will be hard for me, as well as viewing communion from the Anabaptist perspective, mostly because transubstantiation was so hammered into me at the Roman Church

One of the closest things to a “catechism” would be the Martyr’s Mirror.

[S A DeVault]

See this thread for a discussion on the 1963 Mennonite Confession of Faith.

viewtopic.php?t=4842

This CoF is endorsed by many of the congregations and denominations that descended from the Swiss Brethren heritage, and is claimed by the congregation to which my wife & I belong. I am from the Dutch Mennonite heritage, and while this confession of faith was, as I understand, written by the General Conference Mennonites, who are also of Dutch Mennonite heritage (often we are all referred to as "Russian Mennonites"), my own faith background, Mennonite Brethren, has never claimed this confession.

What I think you might find interesting and revealing, would be to compare various confessions point by point. Individual congregational Statements of Faith might also be interesting to compare. (One stark difference in the original MB statements is that there was a recognition from the beginning (1860), that God calls men into the role of pastor by two basic means, through the voice of the congregation, and through a personal call. This latter form of a call to ministry is rarely if ever recognized in the congregations of Swiss Brethren descent.)

Hi Neto, I read this CoF, I found it very enlightening. I think I agree with everything in it, although giving up tobacco will be hard for me, as well as viewing communion from the Anabaptist perspective, mostly because transubstantiation was so hammered into me at the Roman Church

One of the closest things to a “catechism” would be the Martyr’s Mirror.

I plan on beginning to read Martyr's Mirror today!